Author 




Title 



Imprint. 



16 — 47372-2 8PO 



MORTALITY 



FROM 



CASUALTIES 



Published by 

The Mutual Life Insurance Company 

OF NEW YORK 



MORTALITY 



FROM 



CASUALTIES 



\> 



& ' 



( ^ 




Published by 

The Mutual Life Insurance Company 



OF NEW YORK 



1896 



2/ or* 



I 



Copyrighted by 
The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York 
March, i8q6 



MORTALITY 



FROM 



CASUALTIES. 



Mr. Richard A. McCurdy, 

President. 
Sir: 

I respectfully present for your consideration 
the following report : 

REPORT ON THE MORTALITY RESULTING FROM CASUALTIES. 

The mortality from casualties is of great interest to 
life insurance companies, because such deaths are liable 
to occur equally at early and late ages and after short or 
long periods of insurance, and thus occasion unexpected 
and serious losses. 

All ages and conditions of life are exposed to some 
danger of accident, although the special kind of danger 
will vary with the age, the place of residence, the occu- 
pation, and the habits of life. The young are more reck- 
less and more apt to engage in hazardous occupations; 
the old are less alert in observation and movement, and 
have less power of resistance and recuperation from 
injuries. In some forms of occupation the hazard to 
life is so great as to render the persons engaged in them 



4 

uninsurable; in others, the danger is above the average, 
and yet counterbalanced by conditions which conduce to 
good health and longevity. The hazard attached to 
many occupations and conditions may vary, and what is 
at one time perilous may become comparatively safe by 
the discovery and enforcement of new safeguards and 
methods of protection. This holds good also for the 
dangers of travel by water and land. While the habit 
and custom of traveling has enormously increased within 
recent years, the danger to the individual is less now than 
it ever has been. Accidents are still numerous, but not 
in proportion to the increase in railroad travel ; while the 
losses on the ocean have greatly diminished. With the 
introduction of every new mode of conveyance a new and 
increased danger arises, as with the cable and electric 
cars; but it is generally only a substitution of one form 
of danger for another, and is soon counteracted 
by custom and experience. 

I propose to examine in detail the deaths that have 
occurred from casualties during the past ten years, 
classif3dng them according to the manner and cause of 
death. I shall give tables illustrating the important 
facts of each class, and will compare the figures with 
those given in the previous mortality report of the 
Company. In comparing the recent mortalit}^ with 
that in the previous report, it will be found that the 
proportion of deaths from casualties compared with the 



total mortality is far less now than formerly, but that 
this difference is chiefly due to the difference in the ages 
of the Company's risks. In the earlier records the pro- 
portion of elderly persons was very small; the business 
was new business, and consequently there was little 
accumulation of old lives. Now, it is different, and 
there is a considerable accumulation of old lives. Among 
old lives other natural causes of death preponderate 
and the casualties are reduced to a small proportion, 
although they may be as numerous when compared with 
the lives at risk as they were at an earlier age. For this 
reason it would be more proper to compare only the 
mortality during the earlier ages or earlier periods of 
insurance. 

During the past ten years — 1884 to 1893, inclusive — 
there have been seven hundred and fifty-nine (759) deaths 
from casualty, caused as follows: 



I 


Railroad accidents, 


120 


2 


Falls and falling bodies, 


119 


3- 


Drowning, ..... 


118 


4 


Horse and wagon, etc., 


84 


5 


Homicide, ..... 


76 


6 


Firearms, ..... 


72 


7 


Poisons, ..... 


48 


8 


Heat, cold, etc., . 


35 


9 


Burns, scalds, etc., 


31 


10 


Machinery, tools, elevators, 


25 


n 


Unclassified, .... 


31 



759 



In the following tables the classes have been anatyzed 
according to the ages and duration of insurance, and the 
peculiar circumstances of each class. 

Total Casualties. 
1884 to 1893. 



AGES 


a 


u 

*w to 

to 2 

Si 



Eh 


to 
to 

0! 






to 

.2 
'C 

'« 



'3 

Pi 


be 
a 

ft a 
-d-d 

oiM 
01 


bo 

a 
"3 
is 






« 

to 

a 


bfl 

of 
a> 
to 

(h 



a 


8 


w 


to 

a 

Sh 


a 



to 



Hi 


a! 
D 

oO 

to-d 



+-> 

CD 

to 

a) 
u 

E 

to" 

a 

P3 


to 
*o 

Eh 
-d 

a 

si 

f-l 
a> 

a 

3 


a 


-d 

£ 

'to 
to 

45 

"o 
el 
P 


20 to 29 years 


787 


82 


10 


5 


22 


3 


10 


12 


6 


5 


4 


4 


I 


30 to 39 years 


2,112 


168 


22 


12 


31 


20 


36 


14 


11 


3 


6 


6 


7 


40 to 49 years 


2,941 


198 


26 


32 


27 


13 


19 


28 


14 


12 


13 


6 


8 


50 to 59 years 


4,064 


169 


33 


36 


21 


24 


9 


II 


13 


7 


4 


4 


7 


60 to 69 years 


4,3 12 


97 


21 


22 


13 


12 


2 


6 


4 


6 


3 


3 


5 


70 years and over 


3**59 


45 


8 


12 


4 


12 





1 





2 


1 


2 


3 


Total 


17,375 
1 


759 


120 


119 


118 


84 


76 


72 


48 


35 


3i 


25 


31 


DURATION 










OF INSURANCE 










i and 2 years 


i,78s 


190 


28 


18 


34 


14 


34 


25 


8 


7 


7 


1 1 


4 


3 to 5 years 


2,069 


137 


9 


18 


26 


16 


26 


12 


11 


9 


4 


4 


2 


6 to 10 years 


2,15! 


103 


14 


15 


15 


13 


5 


9 


11 


5 


7 


2 


7 


11 to 20 years 


4,984 


190 


34 


35 


32 


28 


9 


17 


7 


5 


9 


6 


8 


2 1 years and over 


6,386 


139 


35 


33 


11 


13 


2 


9 


1 1 


9 


4 


2 


10 


Total 


17,375 


759 


120 


119 


118 


84 


76 


72 


48 


35 


3i 


25 


3i 



Taking up and analyzing each class, we have, first, 
railroad accidents. 

Railway. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years . . 
30 to 39 years . . 
40 to 49 years . . 
50 to 59 years . . 
60 to 69 years . . 
70 years and over 



DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 



i and 2 years . . 
3 to 5 years 
6 to 10 years . . 

11 to 20 years . . 

2 1 years and over 



10 
22 
26 

33 
21 



5 
12 

9 
9 
4 
o 



39 



C x/i 



i- 9 



O 

4 
7 

'5 
13 

5 



44 



13 



28 

9 
14 

34 
35 



n 

5 

5 

1 1 

7 



39 



6 
o 

5 
12 
21 



44 



13 



13 



13 



This division includes accidents on all kinds of rail- 
roads, viz. : steam, cable, electric and horse car. 

Thirty-nine (39) were passengers on trains, and forty- 
four (44) were killed by trains at street or road crossings, 
etc. The deaths among the travelers are distributed with- 
out reference to periods of life or insurance, while of those 



killed at street crossings, etc., a very large majority were 
past middle life. Of the eleven (i i) deaths by street cars, 
six (6) were by cable cars, three (3) passengers getting on 
or off the cars, and three (3) struck by cars in crossing the 
street; three (3) were on electric cars, two (2) passengers; 
two (2) by horse cars, both elderly men, knocked down 
and run over while crossing the street. 

Of these one hundred and twenty (1 20) deaths, thirteen 
(13) occurred among railroad employees. This is eleven 
per cent, of the total number, a very large proportion con- 
sidering the small number of railroad men insured in the 
Company. Eight (8) of these thirteen (13) deaths took 
place within two years of the time of insurance ; five (5) 
were trainmen, one (1) locomotive engineer, two (2) brake- 
men, and two (2) railway postal clerks ; three (3) were 
station agents, and one (1) an office clerk; two (2) were 
working as track laborers; one (1) was a "night patrol," 
and, while riding on his velocipede along the track in this 
capacity, was run over by an express train. One (1) was a 
railroad superintendent, and was killed in a collision 
while riding in an ordinary passenger train. 

Very few of these persons were accepted for insurance 
while engaged in these occupations. They either made 
incorrect statements, or assumed these occupations after 
their policies were issued. The large number of accidents, 
and the very short duration of the insurance, indicate 
plainly the excessive amount of hazard incurred in 



connection with all railroad work. This hazard may not 
be sufficient to disqualify absolutely from insurance, but 
it indicates certainly the necessity for extreme care in 
selection, and probably for an extra premium. 

Falls and Falling Bodies. 



AGES 


XD 

< 
Eh 


u 

'3 
w 

a 
is 


en 

.„ 
11 

a"3 


U 

a 
2 
a 

pa 

S 


a 

s 

<D 

> 


"o to 

a* 
a M 




> 
X d 


a 

■d 
c 


•S.S! 


to 

"3 
fa 

to 

3 
O 
<D 

a 


01 

■3 


m 
be 







O 


p 

to 

"3 
ft 


offl 

fa^ 3 
w a 

m at 

"3 
ft 




u 

ft 

CO 

"3 
ft 


a 


zn 

"3 
ft 


§5 

pta 
.„ > 

_to jj 

"3ft 
ft 



+-> 

a 

U3 

"3 
ft 



1-1 

to 

"3 
fa 


31 
-30 

fa 




en 


"3 
fa 

2 


e 


20 to 29 years 


5 





O 





O 





I 





2 


O 


O 


30 to 39 years 


12 


2 


I 


3 


O 


2 








I 


O 


2 


I 


40 to 49 years 


32 


6 


4 


5 


2 


1 





1 


2 


3 


6 


2 


50 to 59 years 


36 


3 


4 


9 


2 


3 


4 





O 


5 


5 


I 


60 to 69 years 


22 


4 


2 


2 


3 


1 


1 


1 


O 


3 


2 


3 


70 years and over 


12 


8 








1 





1 





O 








2 




119 


2 3 


11 


19 


8 


7 


7 


2 


5 


11 


17 


9 


DURATION 


























OF INSURANCE 


























i and 2 years . . 


19 


1 


1 


3 





1 


3 


2 


2 





6 





3 to s years 


17 


5 


^» 


2 





1 








1 


1 


4 


1 


6 to 10 years 


*5 


1 


2 


1 


1 


1 








2 


4 


2 


1 


11 to 20 years 


35 





5 


10 


2 


2 


2 








5 


1 


2 


21 years and over 


33 
119 


10 


1 


3 


5 


2 


2 








1 


4 


5 




2 3 


1 1 


19 


8 


7 


■7 


2 


5 


1 1 


17 


9 



There have been one hundred and nineteen (119) 
persons killed by falls or on account of being struck or 
crushed by falling bodies. 



IO 

The accidents admit of subdivision into three large 
classes which have their own peculiarities : 

i st. Falls down stairs, on pavements, and from small 
heights. The majority of these are in persons of advanced 
age. 

2d. Falls from windows, hatchways, buildings, etc. 
These occur at all periods of life, and in many cases are 
directly connected with the occupation. Of the nineteen 
(19) persons killed by falls from buildings, eleven (1 1) were 
house builders (carpenters, masons and roofers) engaged 
at their work ; two (2) farmers fell from haylofts ; three 
(3) were insane, one (1) of whom was trying to escape from 
an asylum through a window, and the rope he was using 
broke. Another jumped from a window, and a third 
escaped from an institution, wandered off and fell from a 
railroad trestle. One (1) fell in a gymnasium. Several 
injuries were connected directly with the occupation. 

3d. Persons killed by being struck by falling bodies 
or substances. Four (4) farm laborers or farmers were 
crushed by falling trees when engaged in felling timber; 
one ( 1 ) mason engaged at building house , killed by a falling 
brick. Several were men engaged about manufactories, 
lumber yards, or unloading vessels. 

On the whole these figures and explanations are 
satisfactory. They give no special indication of careless- 
ness or exposure, but merely represent dangers to which 
all are liable; the number of accidents among house 



II 



builders alone is worthy of consideration, but as these 
represent a very large class in the community, and there- 
fore in the total risks, the number of fatal accidents may 
not be excessive, and is to a certain extent counter- 
balanced by the general beneficial influence of their out- 
door life. 

Drowning. 



AGES 


w 

< 

O 


•d 



S 

a 


+-> 

0) 

s 

■B 


<— 1 


B 

'C 

Hi 

nJ 

CD 


bo 
H 

!3 

at 
ffl 




V 

bfl 

"3 
w 

a 

'% 

Pi 


> 

oS 

u 


CD 

12 
'3 

'3 

«2 



a 

p 

'5. 

3 
as 


■d 
a> 

B 


Q 

-d 

B 
B 
O 
ft 


u 

<D 

4-» 

OS 

* 

O 
4-1 

a 

h- 1 

H 
ft 


•d 

CD 
cfl 
fl 


20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 years 
50 to 59 years 
60 to 69 years 
70 years and over 


22 

31 
27 
21 
13 
4 


4 
5 
5 
1 
2 



2 

7 
2 





7 
7 
1 
1 
2 



4 
4 

7 

3 





I 
I 
I 

3 






I 

2 

3 
1 


2 
2 
3 

3 
I 

I 


I 

2 

5 
4 

3 
2 


I 
2 
I 

4 
2 





118 


17 


11 


18 


18 


6 


9 


12 


17 


10 


DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 




i and 2 years 
3 to 5 years 
6 to 10 years 
11 to 20 years 
21 years and over 


34 
26 

15 
32 
11 


4 
5 
3 
4 
1 


8 
2 
1 




9 
4 
1 

3 
1 


6 
6 
3 

3 



1 

2 


3 




2 

3 
3 
1 


I 

3 

6 

2 


2 
1 

2 
7 
5 


1 

3 

2 

3 
1 




118 


17 


11 


18 


18 


6 


9 


12 


17 


10 



There have been one hundred and eighteen (118) 
deaths from drowning. Seventeen (17) of these were 



occasioned by the calamity of the "Johnstown flood" in 
1889; in nine (9) cases at least, there was a strong suspicion 
of suicide, and a lesser suspicion in some others of those 
marked as " found drowned;" eighteen (18) were 
drowned while bathing; eighteen (18) were out in pleas- 
ure boats, rowing, sailing, fishing, etc. , and two (2) while 
skating. In eleven (11) cases the deaths were due to the 
occupations, as follows: three (3) sea captains; chief 
officer, pilot, engineer, steward, one (1) each; master 
mariners, four (4). These latter are generally in com- 
mand of coasting schooners, and the mortal^ is so high 
that it is worthy of consideration whether they are insur- 
able. Six (6) persons onty were passengers traveling by 
water; one was on a steamer wrecked in Lake Michigan, 
and one on the Ohio River, one on the Sacramento, one 
in a schooner on the Newfoundland coast, one was on a 
launch taking passengers from the shore of Mexico to a 
steamer, and one in a collision of steamers in San Fran- 
cisco Ba3^. It is interesting to compare this with the 
earlier experience of the Compan}'. In the mortality 
report for year ending 1873, with one-half the deaths 
from casualties, and one-third the total mortality, there 
were twenty-six (26) deaths among passengers traveling 
by ocean, lake and river, and fourteen (14) of mariners, 
etc. During the past ten years, with a far greater number 
of lives at risk, there has not been a single death of a pas- 
senger traveling in an ocean steamer, 



Horses and Wagons. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 years 
50 to 59 years 
60 to 69 years 
70 years and over 



DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 

i to 2 years 

3 to 5 years 

6 to 10 years 
11 to 20 years 
21 years and over 



3 

20 

13 

24 
12 
12 



00 

fcn 

a° 

|» fc/i 



O 
IO 

9 

17 

5 

9 



5° 



14 
16 

13 

28 

13 



6 

9 

10 

18 

7 



50 



13 



T 3 



Eighty-four (84) persons have been killed by injur- 
ies received from horses and wagons. Fifty (50) persons 
were killed by being thrown from carriages or wagons; 
thirteen (13) thrown from horses; twelve (12) received 
fatal injuries from kicks of horses; the remainder were 
run over or struck by runaway teams or heavy trucks. 
Of those thrown from wagons, some were farmers engaged 
at their usual occupations, some were driving on business 
affairs (among whom were two (2) physicians, killed by 



14 

being thrown from their buggies), others driving for health 
or pleasure. The large majority of those thrown from 
wagons and of those run over were above fifty years of 
age. Of the twelve (12) killed by the " kick of a horse," 
eight (8) were farmers, one (1) a ranchman, and one (1) 
a blacksmith. 

Homicide. 













>> 










u 
u 


<0 


+1 






(4 













.a 












0. 

a 


s 







a 




AGES 


< 
Eh 
O 


"3 

S3 




•a 






V 

'fl 




fr 


U) 






i-i 


01 


efl 






Ih 





W 


■d 


rt 


■d 






Ph 


03 




s 
S 




fl 


20 to 29 years 


IO 


4 


I 


I 


I 


2 


I 


30 to 39 years 


^ 


7 


2 


6 


5 


9 


7 


40 to 49 years 


19 


5 


2 





2 


5 


S 


50 to 59 years 


9 


2 


I 


1 


2 


1 


2 


60 to 69 years 


2 


1 


O 











1 


70 years and over 








O 
















76 


J 9 


6 


8 


10 


17 


16 


DURATION 
















OP INSURANCE 
















t and 2 years 


34 


7 


3 


6 


3 


9 


6 


3 to 5 years 


26 


8 





1 


7 


4 


6 


6 to 10 years 


5 


2 


1 








1 


1 


11 to 20 years 


9 


1 


2 


1 





3 


2 


21 years and over 


2 


1 














1 




76 


19 


6 


8 


10 


17 


16 



There have been seventy-six (76) homicidal deaths 
reported. A very large proportion of the whole number 



*5 

were killed on account of personal quarrels or difficulties. 
In ten (to) cases the murder was committed by burglars 
or robbers; eight (8) were killed in riots, melees or brawls; 
two (2) men were killed by their wives; one (1) case was a 
deliberate murder, and in the other self-defense was 
alleged ; one (1) man was killed by his mistress, and another 
by the brother of his mistress; three (3) others were killed 
on account of women; two (2) were killed by insane per- 
sons under the influence of delusions; one (1) was killed 
by Indians. In a few cases the persons were ' ' found 
dead," and the cause and manner of death were unknown, 
or suicide was suspected. 

Of these seventy-six (76) homicides, fifty (50) had been 
insured less than five (5) years, and thirty-four (34) less 
than two (2) years. The proportion for these early years 
of insurance is far larger than is found in any other class 
of casualties. It is evident from the death proofs that 
some of these persons were not proper risks for acceptance 
on account of the moral hazard. 

Nearly all of these deaths happened in the Southern 
or extreme Western States, where law and society have 
less disapproval of this method of settling personal 
quarrels, and where there is less regard for human 
life. The deaths were distributed geographically as 
follows : 



New York, 


3 


16 
Arkansas, 


6 


Nebraska, . . . 


2 


Virginia, . 


i 


Missouri, 


4 


Indian Territory, . 


2 


West Virginia, 


i 


Tennessee, 


i 


New Mex. and Ariz., 


3 


South Carolina, 


4 


Ohio, . . 


3 


California, . 


4 


Georgia, . . 


5 


Illinois, 


2 


Washington, 


i 


Alabama, 


4 


Michigan, . 


2 


Mexico and Yucatan, 


7 


Mississippi, . 


3 


Wisconsin, 


I 


South Africa, . 


i 


Louisiana, 


4 


Minnesota, 


I 


Italy 


2 


Texas, 


6 


Kansas, . 


3 







Total, 76 



Regarding the three (3) deaths in New York State, 
one was killed by an insane man, one was a deliberate 
murder, and one was killed by a drunken guide in the 
Adirondacks. With these exceptions, there have been no 
homicides north of Virginia and east of Ohio. 

There has been an enormous increase in the number 
of homicides since our former report of 1873. In that 
report the proportion of homicides to the total casualties 
was five per cent., and it is now ten per cent. This 
increase is accounted for by the extension of the Com- 
pany's business and field of operation to the Southern 
States and Mexico. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years . . 
30 to 39 years . . 
40 to 49 years . . 
50 to 59 years . . 
60 to 69 years . . 
70 years and over 



DURATION 
OP INSURANCE 



i and 2 years . . 

3 to 5 years . . 

6 to 10 years . . 
11 to 20 years . . 
21 years and over 



17 

Firearms. 



12 

14 
28 
11 

6 
1 



72 



25 

12 

9 

17 

. 9 



o 

£■3 



12 

23 
10 

5 



w.3 



a< 



59 



9 
3 

12 

6 
2 

o 



3 2 



1 
1 1 

'3 
5 
3 

1 



34 



23 



21 

9 

8 

15 
6 



59 



12 

5 
5 
9 
1 



11 

5 
4 



34 



? a! 

O o 

W to 



Seventy-two (72) deaths have occurred from the 
careless use of firearms. Thirty-four (34) were caused by 
guns, and thirty-two (32) by pistols. Of the former, 
twenty-three (23) were by careless or accidental discharge 
of guns when hunting. In many of the cases of pistol 
shots, the persons were alone, and there is no positive 
knowledge of the manner of the accident; in several, 



there was reason to suspect suicide, and in at least ten 
this was very probable. There is no way to avoid the 
hazard of this kind of accident, as long as the custom of 
keeping and using firearms is as general as at present 
in the United States. 

Poisons. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 years 
50 to 59 years 
60 to 69 years 
70 years and over 



6 

11 

14 

13 

4 

o 



4 

7 
11 

7 
1 
o 



3° 



J 3 



si 

•2 si 



5 
2 

12 
6 
1 
o 



26 



DURATION 
OP INSURANCE 



i and 2 years 
3 to 5 years 
6 to 10 years 
11 to 20 years 
21 years and over 



11 

11 

7 
11 



48 



30 



*3 



26 



There have been forty -eight (48) deaths attributed to 
accidental poisoning; thirty-four (34) were from some 



- 



19 

form of opium, and five (5) from chloral. In twenty-two 
(22) of the opium, and four (4) of the chloral cases, the 
medicine was self-administered, independent of medical 
advice, and taken in an overdose; in many of these cases 
there was evidence of previous use of the drug, and in a 
very few cases, reasonable suspicion of suicidal intention ; 
in the other cases it was said to have been taken on 
account of sleeplessness or physical pain. The other 
poisonings were as follows: 



Arsenic, .... 2 cases. 

Carbolic acid, . 3 " 

Corrosive sublimate, 1 case. 

Aconite, .... 2 cases. 

Muriatic acid, . . 1 case. 



Murder indicated in both. 
Taken by mistake. 



Cannabis indica, 


1 " 


Insured was an invalid, and used it 
as medicine for cough ; took over- 
dose. 


Cocaine, . . 


. 1 " 


Habitual use; overdose. 


Atropine, . . 


. 1 " 


Druggist's error. 


Strychnine, . 


. 1 " 


Deficient information. 



Heat, Cold, Etc. 















w 














<u 























<D 






>d 






►J 


M 

(-1 
+-> 
w 


N 
O 


g 


PI 
u 





at 


AGES 


< 
Eh 








Pi 

•a 


En 








8h 


-p 

OS 

a) 



O 


3 










5 


I 


I 


2 


I 


O 




3 


2 


O 


I 





O 




12 


IO 


I 


O 


1 







7 


6 


I 


O 





O 




6 


4 


O 


O 


I 


I 


70 years and over 


2 


2 


O 


O 





O 




35 


25 


3 


3 


3 


I 


DURATION 














OP INSURANCE 
















7 


3 


1 


2 


1 


O 




9 


7 





1 





I 




5 


4 








1 


O 




5 


4 


1 








O 


21 years and over 


9 


7 


1 





1 


O 




35 


2 5 


3 


3 


3 


I 



Deaths resulting from exposure to heat and cold and 
violent action of the elements are classified among these 
accidental deaths. There have been thirty-five (35) in 
all: twenty -five (25) from heat or sunstroke, three (3) from 
cold, three (3) from lightning, three (3) from tornadoes, 
and one (1) from earthquake. Those who lost their lives 
in the Johnstown flood might have been included in this 
class, but I have preferred to place them with the 
"drowned." Among those killed by heat there were per- 
sons in all classes of occupations, indoor and outdoor, 



and they resided chiefly in the middle tier of States. The 
three (3) deaths from cold or freezing occurred in Utah, 
Nevada and Oregon. The tornadoes were in New Hamp- 
shire, Minnesota and Louisville, and the earthquake at 
Charleston. 

Burns, Scalds, Explosions, Burning Buildings. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 years 
50 to 59 years 
60 to 69 years 
70 years and over 



4 
6 

l 3 
4 
3 
1 



3i 



1 

4 
10 

3 
2 
1 



DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 



i and 2 years 
3 to 5 years 
6 to 10 years 
11 to 20 years 
21 years and over 



31 



There have been thirty -one (31) deaths caused by 
burns, scalds and explosions. This class is made to 
embrace all deaths resulting from conflagrations, burns, 
suffocation, and those injured by falling or jumping from 



22 



burning buildings. Twenty (20) deaths have occurred 
as resulting from conflagrations; thirteen (13) were burnt 
or suffocated, and seven (7) were killed by falls or falling 
walls; six (6) were burned in hotels; three (3) were at 
work as firemen, and their occupation was thus responsi- 
ble for their deaths. Of the other ten (10), three (3) were 
from burns and scalds, three (3) from the explosion of gas 
in mines, and two (2) druggists from explosion of chemi- 
cals. In this class of casualties death was incurred in 
seven (7) cases on account of exposure due to occupation. 
Machinery, Tools, Etc. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 )^ears . . 
50 to 59 years 

60 to 69 years 

70 years and over . . 

DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 

i and 2 years 
3 to 5 years 
6 to 10 years 
11 to 20 years 

21 years and over . . 



25 



11 

4 
2 
6 
2 

25 



23 

Twenty-five (25) deaths were direct results of injuries 
received from machinery, tools and elevators : five (5) in 
cotton-gins, five (5) in saw-mills, seven (7) in other fac- 
tories, and six (6) from elevators. Nearly all these 
machine accidents occurred to persons directly occupied 
with the machinery. The cotton-gin and saw-mill em- 
ployees were generally reported at the time of insur- 
ance as engaged in some other occupation, and probably 
had been at work at this kind of labor for only a short 
time. There is always a considerable element of danger 
involved in the working about machinery of any kind, 
and this danger is very much greater in proportion to 
the inexperience of the workman. Of the saw-mill 
accidents none were in persons habitually engaged at the 
work, but either casual assistants or men, farmers and 
others, who gave but a few days each year to the mill. 
Of the other accidents, some were mechanics crushed by 
machinery or bursting fly-wheels, and one was a wood- 
worker who cut an artery with his chisel. 



24 



Unclassified. 



AGES 



20 to 29 years 
30 to 39 years 
40 to 49 years 
50 to 59 years . 
60 to 69 years 
70 years and over 



DURATION 
OF INSURANCE 

i and 2 years 

3 to 5 years 

6 to 10 years 

11 to 20 years 

21 years and over 



31 



3 1 



14 



14 



Thirt3^-one (31) deaths have been grouped together as 
"Unclassified" or "Miscellaneous," as they- have resulted 
from miscellaneous causes and therefore do not admit of 
other classification. One group of these, however, is suf- 
ficiently important to require a special notice, namely, 
deaths by asphyxia from gases. Eleven (n) deaths have 
come from such a cause. One was a farmer who was suf- 
focated by carbonic acid gas in cleaning out a deep well ; 



25 

the other ten (10) were all killed by inhalation of illumin- 
ating gas. They were found dead or dying in their beds 
and the rooms filled with escaped gas — four (4) in hotels 
or boarding houses, four (4) in their own rooms. The 
majority of them were persons past middle life, and after 
many years of insurance. The remaining cases occurred 
from accidents of various kinds, which call merely for 
enumeration : 

Three (3) were gored by bulls and cows. 

One (1) killed by dynamite. 

One (1) killed by explosion of a boiler. 

One ( 1 ) crushed between wharf and ferryboat. 

One (1) struck with a pitchfork in his eye. 

One (t) lumberman killed by a log. 

One (1) swallowed false teeth. 

One ( 1 ) thrown from a sled when coasting. 

One (1) thrown from a bicycle. 

It will now be interesting to compare the mortality 
occurring from casualities during recent years with that 
occurring during the earlier periods of the Compan}r's 
experience. This comparison must be based on the total 
deaths from all causes, as unfortunately the number of 
lives at risk cannot easily be ascertained. The following 
table gives the figures for the total deaths for all ages and 
all periods of insurance, and also for the deaths during 
certain specified periods of life and insurance. 



26 



Total deaths from all causes 

Total deaths from casualties 

Percentage 

Total deaths under 50 years of age 

Total deaths from casualties, same ages . . 
Percentage . . , . . . 

Total deaths under 10 years of insurance 
Total deaths from casualties for same period 
Percentage 




to 

1893 



17,375 
759 

4-37 

5, 8 4o 
448 
7.67 

6,005 

43° 

7.16 



It will be at once observed that the percentage of 
accidental deaths based on the total mortality has 
declined nearly one-third since the Company's report of 
1873. It would be erroneous, however, to infer that the 
actual mortality, as based on the lives exposed, is any 
less now than it was formerly. The conditions of the 
Company have changed markedly since that earlier 
report, and especially in those characteristics which affect 
the causes of mortality. In the earlier period the lives 
were young, both in age and in insurance, consequently 
there were few deaths from the degenerative diseases of 
advancing years, and the benefits of recent medical selec- 
tion were more pronounced. In the earlier period, two- 
thirds of the deaths occurred in persons under fifty years 
of age; while in the latter period this proportion was only 



27 

one-third. Again, in the earlier period four-fifths of the 
mortality occurred under ten years of insurance, while in 
the latter period the proportion was about one-third. 

The probable effect of this change in the mortality 
had already been considered, and was expressed in the 
former report as follows: "With advancing life, 
' ' new diseases and causes of death appear, and these not 
" only increase the total mortality, but also change the 
' ' relative proportion of the various causes of death. The 
' ' same diseases may continue to exist and to exert their 
" former influence, but the prevalence of the new diseases 
' ' diverts our attention from them and appears to make 
" them less frequent." In order to escape this fallacy, I 
have endeavored to assimilate the conditions at the two 
periods by leaving out all above fifty years of age and ten 
years of insurance. On comparison of the figures pre- 
pared under these limitations, it will be seen that the pro- 
portion of deaths from casualties is almost exactly the 
same at both periods. There is a slightly diminished pro- 
portion in the recent years, but this diminution is only 
one-half of one per cent, when based on the experience 
of similar ages, and one-fifth of one per cent, when based 
on similar insurance periods. This close correspondence 
in the rate of mortality from casualties during these two 
periods manifests itself most distinctly in the very earli- 
est years of insurance. At this time the risks are presum- 
ably in the best physical condition. Medical examination 



28 

has eliminated all those suffering from an}^ form of 
disease, but no examination can give any protection from 
chance of accidental death. Consequently, casualties 
assume a high proportion among the causes of death in 
this class of risks, while with each succeeding year the 
natural deterioration of health introduces other causes of 
death, and thus diminishes the proportionate rate of mor- 
tality from accidents. 





1844 

to 

1873 


1S84 

to 

1893 


Total deaths in ist and 2d years of insurance 
Total deaths from casualties for same period 
Percentage 

Total deaths in 3d, 4th and 5th years of 

insurance 


1,117 

us 

10.3 

1,600 
in 
6.9 


1,785 

190 
ro. 6 

2,069 

137 
6.6 


Total deaths from casualties for same period 







The proportions vary so little that the above may be 
regarded as the normal rate. In the earlier years of insur- 
ance, accidental deaths will probably cause about ten per 
cent, of the losses, and this percentage will gradually 
decrease on account of the actual increase in other and 
natural causes of death. The varieties and nature of 
the accidents will change. New inventions or discover- 
ies, and modifications in the habits of life, will introduce 
new elements of peril, which at first appear to be new 



2 9 

risks superadded to those already existing, but this appre- 
hension is generally groundless, and the result will be 
merely a substitution of a new for an old form of danger. 
Having now analyzed the mortality from accidents, 
in accordance with the immediate and direct causes of 
death, it may be more interesting and profitable to 
examine them from another standpoint, namely, from 
the character of the perils surrounding the individual, and 
the circumstances under which accidents of various forms 
occur. Four general groups may be made, but the divi- 
sional lines between them are not absolutely distinct, and, 
although the groups have definite characteristics, it may 
be sometimes difficult to say in which particular group 
an individual case should be placed. 

ist group. Those accidents which may be especially 
called "fortuitous;" they imply no special risk, hazard 
or carelessness on the part of the individual, but are 
such as might occur to any person in the community. 
In this group would be placed the deaths from trivial falls 
(down stairs, on pavements, etc.) from vehicles on public 
thoroughfares or railway crossings, from lightning, sun- 
stroke or heat prostration, from conflagrations of houses, 
also those killed by extraordinary action of the elements, 
as floods (Johnstown), tornadoes and earthquakes. This 
group should also include those killed in the ordinary 
travel of daily life— such as the suburban railways and 



3° 

street cars of cities — while engaged at their ordinary 
occupation. 

2d group. This group closely approximates the first, 
and comprehends those who die from the perils which 
surround and the accidents which may occur to all classes 
of persons at periods or conditions of life slightly re- 
moved from their routine of habit and work. These 
occasions are when people exchange their work for re- 
laxation, pleasure, sport or amusement, and at such times 
a certain amount of extra hazard is incurred. It may 
take the simple form of carriage driving, or the more 
risky one of hunting or boating. It includes all forms 
of pleasure — travel, horseback riding, hunting, sailing and 
boating, bathing, skating, bicycling and gymnasium ex- 
ercise. All these sports and active amusements involve 
a certain amount of hazard, but this danger is far more 
than counterbalanced (as far as life and health are con- 
cerned) by the stimulus and exhilaration of the fresh 
air, the relief from care and monotony, and the renovating 
influence on the physical health. Therefore, as far as 
life insurance is concerned, however much an individual 
accident may be regretted, these habits and practices 
are to be encouraged and the accompanying risk dis- 
regarded. 

3d group. This group embraces a class of casual- 
ties which have an underlying element of a moral nature. 
This moral factor may be crime, passion, over-indulgent 



3i 
habits, or gross carelessness in the individual, encouraged 
sometimes by the general tone and customs of society. 
The casualties are those of homicide, asphyxia from gas, 
carelessness in the administration of medicine, and the 
carrying and handling of firearms. A few of the homi- 
cides are premeditated murders, or murders committed 
in attempt to rob, but most of them result from personal 
quarrels. The social custom which permits or encour- 
ages such settlement of quarrels tends also to the carrying 
of firearms and the occasional deaths from the careless 
handling of them. Over-indulgence in stimulants tempts 
to the use of opium and chloral, to allay the resulting 
nervousness, with the sequence of a fatal over-dose. In 
manjr of these cases there is a grave suspicion of suicide, 
as where a person is found dead with a pistol by his 
side, or a bottle of morphine or chloral on the table, or 
the gas escaping freely into his room. In the absence of 
direct evidence, charity gives a verdict in favor of 
"accident." These are the most deplorable and unsatis- 
factory cases among the "accidental " deaths. They offer 
no suggestion of any compensatory advantage, and very 
many of them occur during the early years of insurance. 
4th group. This group comprises all those cases 
in which death has been occasioned by accidents due to 
the hazard inherent in the occupations in which the 
persons were engaged. It consists principally of men 
employed in railroading, seafaring, building, mechanical 



3 2 

occupations, and farmers. The last have been included 
on account of their daily exposure to injuries in using and 
caring for animals, and occasionally in cutting wood. 
Of the total seven hundred and fifty-nine (759) deaths 
from casualties, one hundred and three (103) belong to 
this group, and they are of sufficient importance to entitle 
them to particular enumeration and description. They 
are as follows: 

Farmers, 35. 

1 5 farmers, thrown from wagons, carts, etc. 
" " horse, 

killed by kick of horse. 
" " bulls or cows. 
" " falls from hay. 
crushed by falling trees in chopping wood. 

Allied Occupations, 5. 

1 wagon driver, thrown from wagon. 
1 livery stable keeper, ll " " 

1 " " " " " horse. 

1 blacksmith, kicked by horse. 
1 lumberman, crushed by log. 

Railroads, 12. 

1 locomotive engineer, killed in railroad accident. 

2 brakemen, " 



2 


it 


9 


t i 


3 


it 


2 


d 


4 


a 



2 R. R. postal clerks, 

3 station agents, 

1 R. R. office clerk, 

2 track laborers, 
1 night patrol, 



( i « ( 



( < I < 



.33 

Seafaring, ii. 

i S. S. captain, lost at sea, \ 

i S. S. chief officer, " " [-Lost in steamer Alvo, 1893. 

1 S. S. engineer, u " j 

1 S. S. captain, " << Chilian steamboat. 

1 steam tug captain, " " on coast of Oregon. 

1 pilot, << " Atlantic Ocean, near New 

York. 
1 master mariner, " < < coal schooner, sailing from 

Baltimore, near Delaware 
Breakwater, 
trading schooner near Grand 

Banks, Newfoundland, 
brigantine, voyage from Sicily 
to Newfoundland. 
1 " '* sealing schooner, wrecked on coast of 

Newfoundland. 

1 steward, steamboat foundered in Lake Superior. 

Builders, 13. 

7 carpenters, fell from buildings or scaffolds. 

2 tinners, " " " " " 
1 slater, " " «« «< << 

1 mason, " u " " «« 

2 masons, killed by falling bricks or walls. 

Mechanics and Workers in Machinery, 16. 

4 ginners, injured in cotton-gins. 

3 sawyers, killed by circular saw. 
1 miller, caught in machinery. 

1 " killed by loose flying pulley. 
1 wire roller, drawn between rollers. 



34 

i mechanic, killed by machinery. 

i " struck by piece of timber (saw filer in saw-mill) . 

i miller, running stationary engine, fly-wheel burst, 

i blacksmith, pipe exploded at forge, 

i mechanic, testing an elevator, 

i carpenter, cut artery with chisel. 

Mines, Quarries, Stone Mills, 5. 

1 overman of mine, fell down shaft. 

1 foreman of workmen in quarry, fell down quarry. 

i laborer at stone saw-mill, crushed by falling stone. 

2 mine employees, explosion of gas. 

Miscellaneous, 7. 

4 firemen, killed at fires (2 professional and 2 volunteer). 
2 druggists, explosion of chemicals. 
1 sheriff, shot in riot (Arkansas). 

Farmers give the largest number of deaths, but this 
preponderance is due to the large number of such lives, 
and not to any excessive hazard. The dangers are real, 
but the risk is fully equalized by the general healthfulness 
of the occupation. 

Railroading and seafaring are both hazardous occu- 
pations, and have occasioned a considerable proportion of 
» the mortality. The former was examined in the earlier 
portion of thi* report (page 7), and therefore requires no 
additional explanation. It is satisfactory^, however, to 
find that there have been no deaths among conductors, 
section and yard masters, whom the Compan)^ is in the 
habit of insuring at ordinary rates. With regard to the 



35 

latter occupation, it will be observed that three of the 
cases occurred in the same casualty. They were officers 
of the freight steamer "Alvo," which was lost in a 
hurricane in the summer of 1893 when on a voyage from 
New York to the West Indies. Three were master mar- 
iners of schooners on the Atlantic coast (two near New- 
foundland). This appears to be a large loss, but possibly 
it is compensated for b}^ the extra charge usually made 
in this class of cases. 

Thirteen (13) deaths have occurred among persons 
engaged in the building trades. This is a large number, 
and undoubtedly represents very considerable hazard in 
the occupation. On the other hand, this form of occupa- 
tion is engaged in for onty a portion of the time, other 
intervals being taken up with shop work. It is also 
probable these dangers are compensated for by the out- 
door and healthy life. 

Sixteen (16) deaths have occurred to mechanics, 
millers and other persons engaged about machinery. 
Four (4) of these accidents happened from cotton-gins, 
and three (3) from circular saws. In the majority of 
both these classes the injuries occurred to persons who 
were only occasionally engaged at the work, and therefore 
ignorant or careless of the dangers. The other nine (9) 
cases occurred in various wsljs, and represent the unavoid- 
able hazards attending employment in factories and 
machine shops. 



3* 

New inventions and appliances bring new forms of 
danger, and this danger is proportionate to the novelty. 
Custom, self-interest and appropriate legislation, however, 
soon interpose reasonable safe-guards and reduce the 
danger to a minimum. 

The remaining cases require no special comment. 

Respectful^ submitted, 

Elias J. Marsh, M. D., 

Medical Director. 
April 12th, 1894. 



h 

v 



\ 



s 



